Steam and liquid control mechanism



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Oct. 30, 1928. v 1,689,249

W. C. M'TCHELL STEAM AND LIQUID CONTROL MECHANISM :Jiled Feb. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet v 2 Fig- E1.

Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

- UNITED STATES WALTER C. MITCHELL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STEAM AND LIQUID CONTROL MECHANISM.

Application filed February 25, 1927. Serial No. 171,021.

This invention relates to mechanism for controlling the passage oi? steam or liquids through pipes from a source of supply to any point of use.

The invention is capable of application to many uses and in the specific embodimentshown is applied to use in connection with a boiler'for controlling automatically the inj ection of steam into a part of the combustion apparatus, in order to obtain more perfect combustion and to prevent discharge ofcombustible elements from the combustion apparatus.-

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanism or apparatus capable of use in connection with furnaces, or elsewhere, to obtain more perfect combustion ot the com bustible elements, and means for controlling the passage of steam for the above purposes automatically and as an incident to opening the furnace door for the admission-.ofltuel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus or mechanism for controlling the passage of steam or liquid automatically and as an incident to change of position of one of the parts with which the invention isassociated.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the drawing in which I Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodlment oi the invention equipped with a demos for automatically closing one of the valves.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3.is a vertical sectional view of the cylinder containing the piston forming a part of .the valve closing mechanism and showing an appropriate type of valve for this device.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the cylinder, containing the piston for opening the valve that is closed by the device of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a form of the invention omitting the valve closing mecha-- nism of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a valve con trolled by the furnace door or other movable part for permitting the passage of an increased volume ofsteam or liquid through the apparatus to a point of use.

The invention shown inFigs. 1 and3 comprises a steam or liquid supply pipe 1 which opens into a-valve chamber 2 from Wl11Cl1 a pipe '3 leads to a point of discharge for the steam or liquid. This pipe 3.1nay lead to a manifoldpipe of a smoke consuming or cleanmg device, such as that shown in my application Serial No. 97,598, filed March 26, 1926, or elsewhere as desired.

A valve 4: in the valve chamber 2 is de signed and adapted to be raised in the construction shown to open the passage through the valve, and be lowered to close the passsage. Thestem 5 of the valve 4 extends upwardly in line with the rod 6 of the piston 7 mounted for reciprocation in a cylinder 8. The rod .6 extends through both ends of the cylinder and is adapted to be pushed downwardly to close the valve at by a lever 9. This lever 9 is pivoted at .oneend upon a sup port 10 and has operative connection llvwith the piston rod 6 and is guided in its movements by a slotted arm 12. A weight 13 is mounted on the end of the lever 9. This weight 13 may be adjusted along the lever 9 and. vary the pressure applied thereby to. the piston rod 6. The cylinder 18 contains oil supplied. thereto through a pipe 14 equipped with a transparent filler tank 15 which may be opened to admit oil, and thereafter closed. The pipe let opens into the upper end of the cylinder 8 and has a branch 16 opening into the lower endof, the cylinder and equipped with a check valve 17, permitting the oil to flow. from the pipeM into the lower end of the cylinder and preventing backflow of the oil. through the pipe 16. A pipe connection 18 is provided from the lower end of the cylinder to the upper end of the cylinder, and

this pipe 18 is equipped-with needle valve 19, of known construction, which may be adjusted to regulate the flow ot the oil through: the pipe 18 on descent of the piston 7 in the cylinder. VV-hen the piston 7 is moved upwardly by pressure against-thev lower end of. therod- 6, the o-ilfrom the upper end of the cylinderuflows through. thepipes 1,4- and 16, and throughthe valve 17 into the lower end of the cylinder." Then, when thepressure is released from, against the lower end of the rod 6, the weight 13 pushes the rod 6 and thereby the piston 7 downwardly causing the oil-to pass slowly through the valve 19 and the pipe 18 to the upper end .of the cylinder, and'this cycle of operation is repeated.

A by-pass pipe connection 20 opens from i the pipe 1 into the pipe 3 andis equipped with a valve 21; which may be adjusted as desired to permit a proper amount of steam or liquid to pass continually from the pipe 1 to the pipe 3, without passing through the valve 4. This is desirable in case the invention is used in connection with the device of my said application Serial No. 97,598. lVhen desired the valve 21 may be completely closed.

The stem of the valve 4 extends downwardly and is connected with a piston 22 mounted for operation in a cylinder 23. This cylinder 23 has a Vent opening 24 at or near its upper end to permit free operation of the piston therein.

A pipe 25 leads from the pipe 1 or its connected by-pass pipe 20 (the latter connection being shown) through a valve housing 26 to a pipe 27 which opens into the back-check valve housing 28 from which a pipe 29 opens into the lower end of the cylinder 23, whereby the steam may be admitted into the cylinder 23 to operate the piston 22, causing the I same to open the valve 4 and raise the piston 7 as before explained The pipe 29 is equipped with a needle valve device 30 which may be adjusted to permit eX- haust of steam or liquid from the pipe 29 when the piston 22 is pushed down by operation of the mechanism previously described, or otherwise. The check valve 28 permits the steam or liquid to pass under pressure to the pipe 29, and prevents backflow of the steam or liquid into the pipe 27 A three-way valve 31 is mounted in the valve housing 26 and has its stem 32 engaging a hinge rod 33, so that the hinge rod cannot turn without operating the valve. In the embodiment shown the hinge rod 33 supports the door 34 of a furnace which is necessarily opened to admit fuel to the furnace, and thereafter closed. The construction and relationship of the parts is such that when the door 34 is closed the valve 31 is closed; and when the door 34 is moved to open position to admit fuel to the furnace, or for other purposes, the valve 31 is thereby opened with the result that steam or liquid under pressure passes to the cylinder 23 causing the piston 22 to open the valve 4. This permits steam or liquid to pass under pressure directly from the pipe 1 through the valve housing 2 to the pipe 3.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5 a different form of valve is used to connect the pipe 1 with the pipe 3. As shown in Fig. 5, the pipes 1 and 3 are connected by a valve housing 35 enclosing a check valve 36, of known construction. The stem 5 of the piston 22 operates to open the check valve 36 when the piston 22 is raised, and permits the check valve to drop or to be forced to closed position by pressure of the steam or liquid in the pipe 1 when the piston 22 moves clownwardly. Except for the substitution of the valve 36 and its housing for the valve 4 and its housing, and omitting the automatic closing mechanism for thevalve in the housing connecting the pipes 1 and 3, the structure of Fig. 5 is'the same as the structure above described.

In closed position of the door 34 the valve 31 closes communication from the pipe 25 to the pipe 27, but opens communication from the pipe 27 through the valve 31 to an outlet 37 in the valve housing 26. This prevents accumulation of condensation in the pipe 27 and when the door 34 is opened, to open communication through the valve 31 from the pipe 25 to the pipe 27, the outlet 37 is closed.

' From the foregoing it will be seen that the operation of my improved mechanism responds automatically to the movements of the valve 31 which may be controlled by a furnace door as herein described, or otherwise as desired.

A specially beneficial use to which the invention may be applied is in connection with devices of the character disclosed in my said application Serial No. 97,598, but it is apparent that this invention may be advantageously applied to other uses. It is also apparent that there may be other variations of the invention than as herein particularly shown and described, and I contemplate such variations as may be needed in thedifferent applications and uses of the invention and as may be within the scope of the ap pended claims.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for controlling the passage of fluids comprising a valve housing, an influent pipe to said housing, an efliuent pipe from said housing, a valve in said housing for opening and closing communication between said pipes, a bypass pipe from said influ-cnt pipe to said effluent pipe, a device in said bypass pipe adjustable to permit a desired amount of fluid to pass continuously from said influent pipe to said eflluent pipe, a piston for opening said valve, a pipe for conducting fluid from said influent pipe to one side of said piston, a rotary valve for opening and closing said last-named pipe, and 0p tionally operable means in connection with said last-named pipe between the valve therein and said piston permitting exhaust of fluid from said last-named pipe. Y

2. Mechanism for controlling the passage of fluids comprising a valve housing, an influent pipe to said housing, an eflluent pipe from said housing, a valve in said housing for opening and closing communication between said pipes, a bypass pipe from said infiuent pipe to said effluent pipe, a device in said by pass pipe adjustable to permit a desired amount of fluid to pass continuously from said influent pipe to said effluent pipe, a piston for opening said valve, a pipe for conducting fluid from said influent pipe to one side of said piston, a rotary valve for opening and closing said last-named pipe, optionally operable means in connection with said lastnamed pipe between the valve therein and said piston permitting exhaust of fluid from said last-named pipe, and means for closing said valve in said housing when said lastnamed valve is closed.

3. Mechanism for controlling the passage of fluids comprising a valve housing, an influent pipe to said housing, an effluent pipe from said housing, a valve in said housing for opening and closing communication between said pipes, an actuator for opening said valve, a pipe for conducting pressure from said influent pipe against said actuator to cause said actuator to open said valve, a valve for opening and closing said last-named pipe, an exhaust device in said last-named pipe between said last-named valve and said actuator, and a back check valve in said last named pipe between said exhaust device and said lastnamed valve.

4:. Mechanism for controlling the passage of fluids comprising a valve housing, an influent pipe to said housing, an efliuent pipe from said housing, a valve in said housing for opening and closing communication between said pipes, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a stem extending from said piston into said housing for opening said valve and closing communication between said housing and said cylinder, a pipe for conducting pressure from said influent pipe into said cylinder, a rotary valve for opening and closing said last-named pipe, an optionally operable exhaust device in connection with said lastnamed pipe between said cylinder and said last-named valve, and a back check valve in said last named pipe between said exhaust device and said last-named valve.

5. Mechanism for controlling the passage of fluids comprising a valve housing, an in fluent pipe to said housing, an effluent pipe from said housing, a valve in said housing for opening and closing communication between said pipes, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a stem extending from said piston into said housing for opening said valve and closing communication between said housing and said cylinder, a pipe for conducting pressure from said influent pipe into said cylin der, a valve for opening and closing said lastnamed pipe, an exhaust device in connection with said last-named pipe between said cyl-- inder and said last-named valve, and a back check valve in said last-named pipe between said exhaust device and said last-named valve.

6. Mechanism for controlling the passage of fluids comprising a valve housing, a valve in said housing controlling passage of fluids through said housing, a piston for opening said valve, a pipe for conducting fluid to one side of said piston, a rotary valve for opening and closing said pipe, and optionally operable means in connection with said pipe between said valve and said piston permitting exhaust of fluid from said pipe.

7. Mechanism for controlling the passage of fluids comprising a housing, an influent pipe to said housing, a valve in said housing controlling passage of fluid from said pipe through said housing, a piston for opening said valve, a pipe for conducting fluid from said influent pipe to one side of said piston, a rotary valve for opening and closing said last-named pipe, a stem extending from. said valve, a rotary support, a connection whereby said valve stem will be rotated by said support, and means for rotating said support and thereby said valve stem to open and close said rotary valve.

8. Mechanism for controlling the passage of fluids comprising a housing, an influent pipe to said housing, a valve in said housing controlling passage of fluidfrom said pipe through said housing, a piston for opening said valve, a pipe for conducting fluid from said influent pipe to one side of said piston,

a rotary valve for opening and closing said last-named pipe, a stem extending from said valve, a rotary support, a connect-ion whereby said valve stem will be rotated by said support, means for rotating said support and thereby said valve stem to open and close said rotary valve, and optionally operable means in connection with said last-named pipe between said rotary valve and said piston permitting exhaust of fluid from said lastnamed pipe.

9. Mechanism for controlling the passage of fluids comprising a valve housing, a valve controlling passage of fluids through said housing, a piston for opening said valve, a pipe for conducting fluid to one side of said piston, a rotary valvefor opening and closing said pipe, a. support connected with said valve for turning said valve and extending in continuation ofthe axis of said valve, a swinging element mounted on said support for turning said support and thereby said valve, and optionally operable means in connect-ion with said pipe between said valve and said piston permitting exhaust of fluid from said pipe WALTER C. MITCHELL. 

